Biography

I have taught a variety of undergraduate courses throughout my career at the Universities of Leeds, Ulster, Aberystwyth, Columbia (New York), and Sussex, concentrating on medieval and early modern literature, Irish literature, literary theory and some twentieth-century literature. I have also taught M. A. courses on Spenser; literature, travel writing and colonialism; and Shakespeare. I am visiting professor at the University of Granada (Spain).

Role

I am Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange in the School (2010-14). In 2013-4 I am teaching an MA course, 'Public Shakespeare'; a period course, 'English Literature 1500-1625'; and a special option, 'Creative Writing in the Renaissance.' I plan to co-teach a special author module with Katie Walter, 'Chaucer' in the autumn term (2014-5).

I am Vice-Chair of the Society for Renaissance Studies (2013-5).

I have just published an edited volume, The Oxford Handbook of English Prose, 1500-1640; and the Norton Spenser, with Anne Lake Prescott (Barnard College, Columbia University. My next major book will be on literature and lying in early modern England on which I have articles forthcoming in Textual Practice and Studia Neophilologica and I am planning to edit the Works of Thomas Nashe with Joseph Black and Jennifer Richards.

I am currently supervising three D. Phil. students, who work on John Donne and toleration; Milton and conceptions of space; and the indoor theatre at the Globe.

I have taught a variety of undergraduate courses throughout my career at the Universities of Leeds, Ulster, Aberystwyth, Columbia (New York), and Sussex, concentrating on medieval and early modern literature, Irish literature, literary theory and some twentieth-century literature. I have also taught M. A. courses on Spenser; literature, travel writing and colonialism; and Shakespeare. I am visiting professor at the University of Granada (Spain).

Research Interests

Literature and Politics in the English Renaissance, especially Republicanism; Spenser and sixteenth-century poetry; Shakespeare; Early Modern Ireland; Travel Writing; National Identity; Colonialism; Britain and Britishness; and, somewhat to my surprise, life writing.

Recent publications

edited, The Oxford Handbook of English Prose, 1500-1640 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013)

I was editor of Renaissance Studies (2006-11), and am a regular reviewer for the Times Literary Supplement. I edit two book series: The Modern Humanities Research Association New Tudor and Stuart translations (with Neil Rhodes); and Early Modern Literature in History (Palgrave) (with Cedric Brown). I was ‘Area Editor: Renaissance and British Literature’, for David Scott Kastan, ed., The Oxford Encyclopedia of British Literature (Oxford; Oxford University Press, 2006). I have recently become general editor for 'British and Irish Literature' for Oxford Bibliographies.